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Macaron Tutorial

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

I'm coming here empty handed today. Well almost...Looks like I won't be around here much this week and I apologize for that. I was hoping to have pictures of some of the behind the scene moment of the work for Carrie's cookbook but I got to tell you, when 2am rolls around...I have no more energy left to bake and write.

Carrie is here, staying at the house for a few days working with me on her book. It's the first time we meet in person and it really feels special to be part of making her dream come true. Above is an out take of one of the dessert for a her book. I was putting things together and wanted to check the morning light in the studio one morning.

I fall asleep flipping through pages of other people's cookbooks knowing that I am never going to have time to bake or cook anything from them. Instead of seeing them collect dust, I thought about holding a giveaway for a couple I have enjoyed reading so far. More like salivating as I read! I have two wonderful books up for grabs for you today: Amy's Bread and Unforgettable Desserts.

All you have to do is leave a comment here (one entry per person) between Tuesday February 9th and Friday February 12th midnight eastern US time. I'll ship anywhere in the world. My dear B. will pick at random a winner for each cookbook.

I really am bad at having a pool of recipes ready to go for busy times. I wish I was as organized as my buddy Jen. Sigh...I have a post in draft mode. I don't have things properly aligned in my head yet. Ha...that could be a goal for 2010 right - a sort of late resolution. Hmmmm. I promise to work on that.

I am always reading your blog. You are so talented. The things I see are as pretty as pictures in any of my cookbooks. I would love to be entered in the cookbook give away but I can't seem to get the darn google acct to work. I am cp dumb.. But I will keep looking, just in case :)Sandi

OMG this is so surreal! I was just browsing Half.com yesterday trying to find a used copies of Unforgettable Desserts, Heavenly Cakes and Michael Ruhlman's Ratio. So cool that you've posted a giveaway!

Gorgeous photo! I would love a dessert made with those ingredients. Hope you are able to get some rest. We will be here waiting when you have the time and energy to post again. You always make such beautiful food!

With a life as full and beautiful as yours, little things will be left behind. I love the work you do and am inspired nearly daily by your lovely images and charming prose. Thanks so much. Now - get some sleep!!

Here's my comment to enter the contest! BTW I've been reading your blog for over a year and thanks to you recipes for the goat cheese tart and pistachio macaroons my friends think I'm a baking genius. Thanks for the blog entries!

Hee hee-I don't have things aligned in my head right either, and I'm not just talking organization here! I would love a cookbook. I don't have many, and would love to receive a hand me down from you. A book with a history is better than a new book anyway-it provides aura and such, so please put my name in your drawing bowl or what have you...Thanks!

i am all about cookbooks. my husband says even if i cooked 3 new recipes from them every day i would never get through them all. i know everything is available online these days, but i still really love having the cookbooks around.

Yay for give aways! Annnnnd it appears I am the first comment! What?! I love all your pictures AND recipes. Yours was the first macaron I ever made and they were delightful. I'm a huge fan of bread and really anything sweet, so I'd love either of these! Thanks for always posting delish photos AND recipes! =)

My name is Clare, I'm a university student in London, Ontario. As a student I really don't have many options to cook or bake even though I love to. I follow yours (and other) blogs to satisfy my need to cook, so thanks for being there for me!

Love the photos on your blog! This entry especially, since my eyes are flooded with strawberries.

Amy's Bread sounds an interesting cookbook...I received Bake Wise for Christmas and have been meaning to bake, uh, something, and was just telling my friend I'd like to try making bread. Not sure why it seems so daunting to me. I think it's a block I'll need to bust through very soon!

I've been learning to bake over the years (with the help of my skillful mother), but have lately started to be a bit more adventurous and am trying new recipes that I've never made before! Either cookbook would help me better my skills.

Empty handed? Oh no....It must be such an honor to work with you Helen. I can just imagine how it is. And the light in that photograph is stunning. Look at the colour and brightness of those strawberries!! No one would expect you to cook or bake at 2am sweetie, thats when you have to get some sleep so you can function again in a few days time with your next pearls of wisdom for this wonderful blog of yours. You are so kind to be giving away some of your books. It would be an honor and priviledge for me to be able to own one of them. Doesn't matter which but the bread one interests me greatly. Thank you and hugs xxx

yours is one of my favorite blogs to read. you have consistently beautiful food presentation via the photos, and your stories make the recipes sound both enticing and entertaining. thank you for your continued great work here!

I love your website! Still haven't figured out how to make the macarons work consistently though...I bought a coffee grinder for the nuts and everything but somehow I keep having problems with it. I would love a cookbook.

Oh, the strawberries look so fabulous and spring-y (in deep contrast to the frigid winter weather here); looking at them makes me happy! Thanks for sharing!

Hang in there... doing quality work like you treat all of us with takes time. Please cut your self a little slack... and have FUN working on the cookbook! Yeah for cooking & blog friends! Yeah for meeting in person! ;-)

I never really considered cookbooks until this year, when I can't concentrate enough to read fiction or nonfiction for fun (I'm a sophomore in college) and now cookbooks and cooking blogs keep me sane!

I've inherited the cookbook-collecting gene from my mom - I love cookbooks, especially if they have wonderful photography like yours. I try to make at least a couple of recipes from each one, but so far I'm at least a dozen books behind. *g* The Dessert book looks awefully yummy! Also, I don't have anything on baking bread in my collection, yet...

I'd love a copy of the book - or to take a food photography class with you. Please post any plans you have to teach some food photogrpahy classes (especially on the west coast, really especially in northern california).Nancy Ingersoll